In Warborne: Above Ashes, weapon choice defines not just your damage profile, but your role on the battlefield. Few weapons embody battlefield control and raw presence as effectively as Greatswords. Built for players who want to stand at the front, carve space for their team, and apply relentless pressure, Greatswords are the cornerstone of bruiser-style gameplay.
Rather than relying on quick bursts or long-range poke, Greatsword users thrive on momentum, wide cleaving attacks, and area-of-effect crowd control. When played well, they become immovable threats—forcing enemy teams to reposition, burn cooldowns, or collapse entirely.
This article breaks down the Greatsword playstyle, core mechanics, Warborne Above Ashes Solarbite, and the two standout Epic-tier options: Hellcore Cleaver and Voidblade.
The Greatsword Identity: What Makes the Weapon Special?
Greatswords sit at the crossroads of damage dealer and frontline controller. They are not pure tanks, nor glass-cannon DPS. Instead, they excel as bruisers—durable fighters who pressure enemies through sustained combat rather than short trades.
Core Traits of Greatswords
Wide Cleaves: Most Greatsword abilities hit multiple targets, allowing consistent damage across clustered enemies.
Momentum Scaling: Damage ramps up the longer you stay active in combat.
AoE Crowd Control: Knockbacks, staggers, and zone denial are central to the kit.
Frontline Presence: Best used while holding choke points, pushing objectives, or anchoring team fights.
This makes Greatswords especially effective in group engagements, where positioning and space control matter more than single-target burst.
Momentum: The Heart of Greatsword Gameplay
Momentum is the defining mechanic for Greatswords in Warborne: Above Ashes. Unlike weapons that spike instantly, Greatswords reward continuous pressure.
How Momentum Works
Momentum builds through successful hits, cleaves, or ability chains.
Higher momentum amplifies damage, cleave width, or secondary effects depending on the weapon.
Losing combat uptime causes momentum decay, reducing effectiveness.
This creates a very specific rhythm:
enter the fight ? stay active ? dominate the space.
Players who disengage too often will struggle. Greatsword mastery comes from knowing when to commit and how to stay alive long enough to let momentum do the work.
Ideal Role: Frontline Bruiser and Space Controller
Greatswords are at their best when played aggressively but intelligently. You are not just dealing damage—you are shaping the fight.
Key Responsibilities
Hold the Frontline
Stand between your team and the enemy. Your cleaves punish anyone who pushes too close.
Control Clumps
Greatswords thrive when enemies group together. AoE pressure forces healers to work harder and DPS to reposition.
Enable Teammates
Crowd control and zoning allow ranged allies and assassins to capitalize on disrupted targets.
Sustain Pressure
Instead of backing off after one rotation, Greatsword users want prolonged engagements.
This makes them especially strong in objective-based modes, choke-heavy maps, and large-scale PvP.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Exceptional AoE damage
Strong crowd control and zoning
Excellent synergy with team-based play
Scales heavily with momentum and sustained combat
Punishes grouped enemies
Weaknesses
Limited mobility compared to lighter weapons
Vulnerable to ranged kite-heavy comps
Requires good positioning and timing
Less effective in quick skirmishes or solo duels against high burst classes
Understanding these strengths and weaknesses is crucial. Greatswords shine when supported and struggle when isolated.
Best Pick: Hellcore Cleaver (Epic)
When it comes to raw frontline dominance, Hellcore Cleaver stands above the rest.
Why Hellcore Cleaver Is the Top Choice
Hellcore Cleaver is built around momentum-based burst and anti-heal effects, making it devastating in prolonged fights. As momentum builds, your cleaves become increasingly punishing, allowing you to break through sustain-heavy enemy compositions.
Key Strengths
Momentum Scaling Damage: Rewards aggressive, continuous combat.
Anti-Heal Effects: Severely limits enemy sustain, especially healers.
Frontline Synergy: Perfect for tanky or hybrid classes like Aegis.
Team Fight Impact: Shines in clustered engagements where anti-heal can swing fights.
Against teams that rely on heal-over-time effects or support stacking, Hellcore Cleaver becomes a win condition rather than just a weapon.
Ideal Builds and Synergy for Hellcore Cleaver
Best Classes
Aegis (Frontline Hybrid): Exceptional synergy due to durability and defensive cooldowns.
Other bruiser-style classes that can remain in combat without disengaging frequently.
Stat Priorities
Sustain: Lifesteal, damage mitigation, or regeneration.
Momentum Generation: Faster ramp-up equals faster dominance.
Cooldown Reduction: Keeps cleaves and control abilities available.
Playstyle Tips
Commit early to build momentum.
Target healers or sustain-heavy enemies to maximize anti-heal value.
Hold choke points where enemies are forced to clump.
Hellcore Cleaver rewards confidence. Hesitation lowers its ceiling dramatically.
Also Notable: Voidblade (Epic)
While Hellcore Cleaver dominates through raw pressure, Voidblade excels at disruption and zoning.
What Makes Voidblade Different?
Voidblade trades some single-target pressure for exceptional AoE control. Its abilities excel at breaking enemy formations and forcing movement, making it a nightmare for tightly coordinated teams.
Key Strengths
AoE Pressure: Constant damage across wide areas.
Zoning Power: Forces enemies to reposition or disengage.
Clump Disruption: Breaks defensive formations.
Objective Control: Excellent for area denial.
Voidblade is less about killing one target and more about winning the battlefield itself.
When to Choose Voidblade
Voidblade is ideal in situations where:
Enemy teams stack tightly around objectives.
You need to control space rather than chase kills.
Your team already has strong single-target damage.
Map layouts favor choke points and narrow corridors.
It pairs well with AoE-heavy compositions that want to punish grouping rather than isolate targets.
Positioning and Combat Tips for Greatsword Users
Master the Arc
Your cleaves are wide, but not infinite. Learn attack arcs and position yourself to hit multiple enemies without overextending.
Control, Then Damage
Crowd control creates damage opportunities. Don’t blow everything at once—stagger abilities to maintain pressure.
Stay in the Fight
Momentum is everything. Use defensive cooldowns proactively so you don’t have to disengage early.
Communicate with Your Team
Greatswords amplify team damage. Call out when you’re engaging or zoning so allies can follow up.
Why Greatswords Matter in the Current Meta
In the current Warborne: Above Ashes meta, group engagements and objective play are more important than ever. Greatswords thrive in these environments by:
Punishing poor positioning
Countering sustain-heavy builds
Forcing enemy teams to respect frontline presence
While they may not top damage charts in solo skirmishes, their impact on fight outcomes is undeniable.
Final Thoughts: The Art of Frontline Pressure
Greatswords in Warborne: Above Ashes are not flashy weapons for highlight reels—they are tools of dominance, control, and inevitability buy Warborne Above Ashes Solarbite. When wielded correctly, they dictate the pace of battle and force enemies to react on your terms.
Whether you choose the relentless pressure and anti-heal power of Hellcore Cleaver or the disruptive zoning mastery of Voidblade, Greatswords reward players who understand positioning, momentum, and team synergy.
If you enjoy standing your ground, cleaving through clumps, and being the reason the enemy formation collapses, Greatswords are one of the most satisfying weapon choices in the game.